Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that child. that child.
• result of child abuse or neglect.
• Last year we were appointed to over 900 cases of child abuse and neglect, and we served nearly 1,500
• > and</c><01:57:56.560><c> we</c> cases of child abuse and neglect and we cases of child abuse and neglect
• </c> children who have been victims of child children who have been victims of child abuse<02:00:44.480

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to um restrict the counselors to report to um restrict the counselors to report on<00:40:35.280>
• , spoken to a child, or seen a child, what are the consequences?
• ><c> a</c> to a child seen a to a child seen a child<01:03:41.960><c> what</c><01:03:42.039><c> are</
• Maybe the child has bruises.
• I want to know what my child is doing. I will support my child.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It involved a child, and the claim of defamation was that the child reported to their mother.
• Yet sexual abuse is rampant in institutions.
• Victims who report abuse lose entire careers, reputations, and are physically impacted.
• Yet sexual abuse is rampant in institutions.
• Victims who report abuse lose entire careers, reputations, and are physically impacted.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on bills in the Civil Actions 2 and Court Administration areas, with testimony spanning judicial security, judicial compensation, civil process fees, bar advocate compensation, interstate discovery, defamation protections for sexual assault survivors, and related criminal procedure changes. Chairs Edwards and Day opened with housekeeping rules on testimony limits and written submissions, then called witnesses on each bill in turn. On H. 1766, judicial officers and the Massachusetts Bar Association strongly supported a judicial security bill that would protect judges’ personal information, citing threats, online harassment, swatting, and violence against judges and their families. On H. 1819, judges and the Massachusetts Judges Conference asked for higher compensation, saying Massachusetts judges rank low nationally after cost-of-living adjustment and that pay affects recruitment and retention. The committee also heard support for H. 1582/S. 1183 to raise civil process service fees, with sheriffs saying the fees have been unchanged since 2003 and are needed to cover rising costs, safety equipment, and operations funded by those fees. The committee heard from prosecutors on H. 1604 and H. 1846, which would give district courts concurrent jurisdiction over certain school-threat and leaving-the-scene offenses, allowing prosecutors to handle less serious or panic-driven cases more efficiently while preserving mandatory penalties. CPCS and bar advocates supported H. 1876 on bar advocate compensation, describing a continuing shortage and crisis in indigent defense despite recent pay increases and staffing investments. The Boston Bar Association supported H. 1857, a Massachusetts version of the Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, saying it would simplify out-of-state discovery and reduce cost and delay. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1974/S. 1143, which would protect survivors of sexual assault and harassment from retaliatory defamation suits unless the plaintiff proves actual malice, and would allow fee shifting and damages against abusive suits. Survivors, advocates, and attorneys described threats, legal costs, and chilling effects that silence reporting, while supporters said the bill would protect truthful speech and improve access to counsel. The committee also heard insurance-industry testimony on S. 1101, which would change personal injury protection payment rules to require insurers to tender disputed amounts within 30 days to avoid attorney’s fees; insurers said the bill would curb a growing volume of provider lawsuits and reduce abuse of the no-fault system. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed after all scheduled testimony was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• In my family's case, my daughter is a survivor of child sexual abuse.
• If we've got, in the cases of child abuse as an example, you've got a...
• If we've got, in the cases of child abuse, as an example, you've got mandatory reporters to make sure
• The abusers are not going to report themselves.
• Anyone in ministry employment is mandated to report any suspected abuse.

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a full roster of members present and heard a series of bills focused largely on criminal law, victims’ rights, and family law. The committee first heard HB 2133, which would require commercial websites distributing sexual material online to verify consent and age for each depicted person, including AI-generated or altered images. Supporters said it would close loopholes in existing revenge-porn and child-exploitation laws, while opponents warned it added more complexity to already lengthy criminal statutes. The bill passed 7-1. The committee then heard HB 2043, expanding felony murder to include unborn children; supporters argued it would close a gap in the homicide statutes, while opponents raised concerns about personhood, reproductive rights, and abortion-related implications. It passed 6-2. HB 2144, allowing child support calculations to begin during pregnancy and limiting pregnancy-related expenses, also passed 6-2 after testimony split between supporters citing parental responsibility and opponents warning about fetal personhood and abortion-related concerns. The committee next considered HB 2126, allowing a venue change in civil actions when a party is employed by the local judicial branch or clerk’s office. The sponsor described it as a fairness and public-confidence measure, and county representatives said they were working on amendments; it passed 7-0 with one member voting present pending amended language. HB 2045, expanding the definition of discharging a weapon from a motor vehicle to include the immediate area around the vehicle, drew testimony about drive-by shootings and concerns about vagueness and overlap with existing homicide laws; it passed 7-1. HB 2046, requiring notice to victims for pre-hearings in annual probation review hearings for certain young sex-offense probationers, passed unanimously. HB 2048, which would limit private process servers from serving certain exclusive-possession orders of protection, prompted debate over victim safety, service delays, and whether private servers were improperly charging fees; it passed 8-0 with one present. The committee also heard HB 2074, as amended, creating a mandatory reporting requirement for medical-facility employees, contractors, or volunteers who know a partial-birth abortion occurred, with the amendment increasing the penalty to a class six felony. Supporters framed it as a reporting and accountability measure, while opponents argued it targeted a procedure already banned and would add unnecessary abortion restrictions. The amended bill passed 5-3. Finally, the committee heard HB 264, creating criminal penalties for injuring or killing vulnerable pedestrians using mobility aids. Opponents said it duplicated existing traffic and homicide laws and could criminalize negligent accidents; after some members expressed reservations but voted yes pending further discussion, the bill passed 8-1. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse to require vaccines?
• abuse case and drug abuse case and those types of cases.
• We had six medical experts that have opined this is not child abuse, including the statewide CPT director
• Buchanan spoke about with child removals with medically complex children are the most egregious abuses
• They are qualitatively different from a parent that is physically abusing their child.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• This was the report from a teacher, someone who has a duty to report child abuse and neglect, that the
• Do you really think a child that's been sexually abused or physically abused is going to sit there and
• Do you really think a child that's been sexually abused or physically abused is going to sit there and
• Do you really think a child that's been sexually abused or physically abused is going to sit there and
• It's a four-hour response time for an investigation that is physical abuse or sexual abuse reports, or

Summary: The Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee met without a quorum, so no votes were taken. Staff presented a study of the Kentucky Fire Commission focused on firefighter minimum training standards and administrative spending. The presentation explained that Kentucky’s training standards are built from NFPA guidelines, that the commission currently requires 115 hours for volunteer firefighters and 300 hours for paid firefighters, and that those reduced hours were adopted by removing electives and other non-NFPA content. Staff also said the commission’s IFSAC certification testing for firefighter 1 and firefighter 2 aligns with NFPA standards, but the commission cannot require local departments to train or certify firefighters. Staff recommended that the commission formally promulgate regulations establishing the reduced training hours and work with KCTCS to better separate administrative costs for certain programs so compliance with the statute can be demonstrated. The finance portion of the report said the commission is funded by general fund appropriations for State Fire Rescue Training and by an insurance premium surcharge that supports the Firefighter Foundation Program Fund. Staff reported that the commission stayed within the 5% administrative cap tied to the overall surcharge allotment, but could not confirm compliance with a separate 5% cap for specific programs because KCTCS accounting does not break out those costs in enough detail. Staff suggested the General Assembly may want to clarify what counts as administrative cost in statute. Members asked about investment returns, local fire department funding, and whether training documentation is required; staff said some of those topics were outside the study scope and that IFSAC testing relies on chief certification that a candidate is ready to test. Representatives from the Fire Commission then responded, saying they agreed with the report’s recommendations and would work to clarify the 5% issue with legislators and KCTCS. They explained that the reduction in training hours was intended to remove electives, better align with NFPA standards, and address the difficulty volunteer departments have in getting members to complete lengthy training. Commission officials said training is documented through rosters and annual compliance reviews, and that IFSAC-certified firefighter testing is based on demonstrated skills rather than a required number of training hours. They also said the difficulty in tracking the second 5% cap stems from the way KCTCS’s PeopleSoft system records reimbursements as single transactions, making it hard to isolate administrative costs by program.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were 8,610 reports accepted at the child abuse hotline, and 6,919 of those, or 80%, were assigned
• And then at the bottom, you will see the timely completion of those child maltreatment reports.
• And then, just as a reminder, a child can enter... ...40% for substance abuse.
• Next on our agenda, we have a report from the Director of Child Advocacy Centers, Director Pulley.
• We, our CACs across the state of Arkansas, provide vital services to child abuse victims.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children and Youth approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. Wright said the changes move internal procedures out of administrative rule into DCFS’s internal procedure manual under an executive order, while also updating terminology, conforming to enacted laws, revising foster family continuing education hours, and removing obsolete requirements. Members asked whether the changes would alter practice; Wright said they were mainly terminology and process-location changes, intended to make the department more efficient and flexible. The committee then accepted the rule review without objection. Wright next presented DCFS quarterly performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026. She reported 8,610 hotline reports accepted, 6,919 assigned to DCFS, 22% of investigations found true, neglect as the most common substantiated allegation, and continued staffing shortages in some counties affecting timeliness. She also reported 3,420 foster care cases, 1,788 in-home cases involving 4,568 children, 72% monthly home-visit compliance, 36% permanency within 12 months, 4.5% re-entry into foster care, and 156 children available for adoption. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation data, behavior-related removals, staffing recruitment and retention, training improvements, and whether ACE-style testing should be considered for children; Wright said DCFS is expanding recruitment, retention, and training efforts and was open to further discussion on education-related assessments. The committee also received DCFS’s biannual overturned investigations report, covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, which tracks hotline calls, accepted reports, true findings, appeals, and overturned findings by county. A member asked for comparison to the prior year’s report. Major Jeff Drew then presented the Crimes Against Children Division annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls in 2025, 37,986 were accepted for investigation, and CACD handled 6,539 cases with a 28% substantiation rate. Members asked about hotline operator training, qualifications, salary, and whether Arkansas compares with other states; Drew said operators receive a four-week training that includes law, policy, scenarios, recorded calls, live-call monitoring, and evidence-chain/decision-making instruction. Finally, Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the statewide network of 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings for professionals. She said funding comes from a mix of state, federal, and community sources, with state funding set at roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per center and not based on caseload. Members asked about funding stability and standards of care; Pooley said CACs follow national standards and Arkansas is developing state best practices. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Abusive partners use fraud. Damaging form of economic abuse.
• Nearly all survivors of domestic violence report experiencing some form of economic abuse, including
• experiencing financial abuse, and 52% have reported being subjected to coerced debt.
• When I became pregnant with my first child, my ex became very physically abusive.
• I have a six-year-old, elementary-school-aged child with my abuser, and he deliberately withholds child

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• be abusing or mistreating their child...” “...in cases where someone may be abusing or mistreating their
• And then we have the other issue about, you know, child abuse and things like that.
• I'm the executive director of Missouri Network Against Child Abuse.
• Jessica Sites with Missouri Network Against Child Abuse.
• Kids Harbor also has a child sexual abuse prevention education program that includes going into 20 school

Committee: House Children and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I'll open House Bill 2735 staff report.
• And when two parents make a child, they automatically start a societal lifelong contract with that child
• and create value for the child from years 1 to 20.
• substance abuse, and no evidence I posed any danger to my child.
• So staff report. So staff report, if you can handle. Involving media and staff with the committee.

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2735, the “Troxel 2” bill relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases. Staff explained that the bill would add legislative findings and intent to Chapter 26.09 RCW, emphasizing parental fitness, equal standing for similarly situated parents, and a duty to cooperate. The prime sponsor and public testifiers largely supported the bill, arguing that family courts too often restrict fit parents’ access to children without sufficient due process and that the bill would restore constitutional protections and reduce conflict. Some testimony also framed the proposal as a way to improve child safety, stability, and outcomes. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on multiple bills. It advanced bills on garnishment forms (ESSB 5865), child hearsay/testimony rules (SSB 5169, amended), immigration-enforcement policies for health care and related facilities (ESSB 5906, amended), compensation claims for wrongly convicted persons (SSB 5520), reinstating the Indigent Defense Task Force (ESSB 5912), preserving streamlined administrative and land-use review procedures (SSB 6009), authorizing court security threat assessments (ESSB 6086), adding superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties (SB 5868), requesting reinstatement of the limited license legal technician program (SJM 8006), expanding personality rights to digital likenesses (SSB 5886), and liability protections for certain children’s item donations, including car seats (ESSB 6087). Several bills were amended before passage out of committee. Votes were recorded on each measure, with most passing on strong bipartisan margins. Notable split votes occurred on SSB 5169 and ESSB 5906, reflecting concerns about balancing child protection, due process, and immigration-related enforcement issues. The committee concluded by thanking staff and adjourned after reporting all listed executive-session bills out of committee with do pass recommendations, some as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• cases, where the state has a compelling interest to protect the child against physical abuse and child
• He added that the correct standard is also the correct standard in child abuse and neglect cases, and
• a compelling interest to protect the child against physical abuse and child neglect, and that this law
• So, what that means is that when the government has an interest in protecting a child against child abuse
• way to that compelling interest of the government protecting the child against physical abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of crime including um child abuse of crime including um child abuse domestic<00:14:23.560><c> violence
• </c><00:14:27.639><c> crime</c> child abuse and other General crime child abuse and other General crime
• </c><00:21:43.720><c> sexual</c><00:21:44.039><c> abuse</c> children work child sexual abuse children
• work child sexual abuse material<00:21:45.039><c> and</c><00:21:45.159><c> we've</c><00:21:45.360><c
• </c> proposal is Banning of CH uh child proposal is Banning of CH uh child sexual<00:21:58.080><c> abuse

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 130 by Senator Grove relative to Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• Beyond the neglect and abuse, we must face the realities that child sex trafficking, labor trafficking
• I rise today in strong support of SCR 130, which does in April 26 as a child abuse prevention month in
• This is... ...as a child abuse prevention month in California.
• Child abuse and neglect remain deeply troubling realities. They cross all socioeconomic, dynamic...

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse case. ...was because Placer County has arrested him on another child abuse case from 1996.
• child abuse.
• They could also be charged with other items like child abuse endangerment.
• All these things continue to be abuse of a child. Those things are still in there.
• This child abuse endangerment with wobblers, two to four years.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about a child and an unborn child in this statute in particular.
• And I left for my child.
• As stated before, abusers, past relationships, they can claim right to this unborn child that was harmed
• As stated before, abusers, past relationships, they can claim right to this unborn child that was harmed
• We heard about the abuser. We heard about the abuser part.

Bills: S0164 , S0656 , S0892

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• And then any report of child abuse.
• report of false child abuse or neglect.
• report of false child abuse or neglect.
• report of false child abuse or neglect. cases.
• false reporting of of child false child false reporting of of child abuse<00:54:17.839><c> or</c><00

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• pursuant to a good-faith report of child abuse or neglect, is immune from any liability, civil or criminal
• </c> each time a report is filed the child each time a report is filed the child may<01:25:32.679><c>
• The majority of U.S. states have penalties for malicious reporting of child abuse.
• It seeks to prevent false and malicious reports about child abuse and neglect of DCF.
• Speaker, I request a division. malicious reports about child abuse and malicious reports about child

Transcript Highlights:

• child. child.
• These definitions cover images of a real child, images of a real child that could have been modified
• . child.
• Prosecutors and law enforcement have seen the wrath. rapid digital development of child sexual abuse
• a reason to give a child porn?

Bills: SB20 , SB1621 , SB412 , SB441 , SB442

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• So HB 403 reported favorably as amended. Thank you.
• Animal abuse is present in 88% of the homes being investigated for child abuse.
• Animal abuse is present in 88% of the homes being investigated for child abuse.
• towards humans, and animal abuse is an early warning sign for family abuse.
• CS for HB 777 reported favorably. Oh. PCS for HB 777 reported favorably.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered a large agenda of bills, mostly in the criminal justice, courts, civil procedure, and family/consumer protection areas. Early measures included CS/HB 1161 on removing altered sexual depictions posted without consent, HB 403 modernizing LLC law to allow protected series LLCs, CS/HB 97 on service of process in protection proceedings for vulnerable adults, and HB 813 as the state courts package addressing duty judges, arbitrator compensation, and notarization by judges. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 403 and HB 813 amended. The committee also heard and advanced CS/HB 947 on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, which drew substantial opposition from insurers, business groups, and defense-oriented witnesses, while the sponsor argued it would let juries hear all relevant evidence; it passed 19-3. Members also approved CS/CS/HB 615 allowing electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email, after an amendment requiring opt-in language and written notice to update an email address; tenant advocates still raised concerns about eviction-related notices and receipt verification. HB 663 increased penalties for using tracking devices or apps to commit dangerous crimes and passed unanimously. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and passed unanimously after a conforming amendment. CS/HB 255, known as Dexter’s Law, increased penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and was supported by law enforcement and animal welfare groups; it passed unanimously. Later in the meeting, the committee approved HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders after the sponsor withdrew an amendment that would have changed the deadline from six hours to six business hours, following concerns that the delay could be too long for urgent orders. CS/HB 1099 gave law enforcement discretion in arrests involving individuals with significant medical conditions in facilities and passed unanimously. HB 653 added aggravating factors for capital felonies involving assassinations or attempted assassinations of heads of state; it drew opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and passed 20-2. CS/HB 59 expanded wrongful incarceration compensation by extending the filing deadline, removing the clean-hands bar, and allowing exonerees to choose between civil suit and the state claims process; it passed unanimously. PCS/HB 777 increased penalties for in-person luring or enticing of children and barred certain age-based defenses, passing unanimously. Finally, CS/HB 437 increased penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; two amendments softened the bill by clarifying juvenile treatment and giving judges limited discretion to avoid automatic revocation of pretrial release, and the bill passed 21-1 before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to over promise about the word report.
• If you look at severance tax reported in 2020, we were right at $4 billion.
• Opportunity for abuse not to say that all our abuses, but you're not not necessarily I don't want to
• We've seen some abuses.
• Last year, we've heard that Harris County abused us. Harris County had two.

Bills: HB19 , HB30 , HB851 , HB1663 , HB1681 , HB1769 , HB1937 , HB1979 , HB2428 , HB2433 , HB2825 , HB3159 , HB3424 , HB3486 , HB3487 , HB3504 , HB3605 , HB3879 , HB3994 , HB4382 , HB4752 , HB5444 , HB5446 , HB5447 , HB3199 , HB4847 , HB19

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice